Minister Gordan Jandroković participated in UN Security Council’s thematic discussion

Speaking at the UK-chaired discussion, Minister Jandroković said that Croatia has extensive experience with the UN peacekeeping missions and is willing to share them, adding that the inclusion of local capacities in peacebuilding can enhance the missions’ effectiveness, as it builds and strengthens national structures’ capacities to assume independent responsibility in post-conflict stabilization. Croatia is grateful for the assistance is has received, including one of the most successful UN missions in general – UNTAES, which can serve as an example of how activities can be enhanced through the knowledge gained. Croatia considers the Peacebuilding Commission to be one of the most successful results of the UN reform so far, having taken active part in its founding and been its member during the first year, said Minister Jandroković, adding that we appreciate and support the Commission’s activities, especially through its integrated peacebuilding strategies. Croatia is aware of the need for a swift and coordinated engagement of the UN peacebuilding system, so that the capacities of all of the agencies involved could be optimally exploited. In that regard, the Croatian Government is willing to give its contribution by offering the expertise and experience our civil experts have gained during the stabilisation period, namely in justice, security, administration and economic recovery, said Minister Jandroković. He concluded his speech by pointing out that Croatia expects that today’s discussion would also result in concrete steps towards strengthening the United Nations and the international post-conflict peacebuilding capacities.

At the discussion’s margins, Minister Jandroković held a bilateral meeting with UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Miliband, mutually confirming the existence of very good relations between the two countries. Minister Jandroković pointed out that Croatia is pleased with the 2007/2008 UK Strategic Partnership, a document presented in Zagreb March last year, providing the Croatia-UK relations with the foundations for a qualitatively higher level of relations. The programme, for which the UK has allotted €1.4 million, entails co-operation in justice, the strengthening of legal state, EU accession negotiations, regional policy, defence, trade, education and culture. As regards economic co-operation, both sides expressed satisfaction with the encouraging increase of trade, which has in 2007 grown by 18% in relation to the year before, with a 25% increase in Croatia’s export. Croatia also expects a rise in the number of British tourists, which last year amounted to a quarter million, as a result of the successful appearance at numerous tourist fairs in Britain. Thanking for the United Kingdom’s support for Croatia’s EU membership, Minister Jandroković pointed out that Croatia would greatly appreciate if that support would continue, as well as if a higher dynamic would be achieved in the opening and closing of as large a number of chapters as possible by end-June this year. The two ministers exchanged opinions on the state of affairs in South Eastern Europe, where both countries are strongly involved in the peace-strengthening and stabilisation processes. The British side expressed satisfaction with Croatia’s initiating the recognition of Kosovo’s independence, in co-ordination with Hungary and Bulgaria. It was concluded that such an act is a confirmation of Croatia’s valid and responsible role in the region. Together with such a regional policy, Croatia’s full NATO membership would further contribute to the region’s stabilisation, said Minister Jandroković. He added that Croatia is well aware that in spite of having received the NATO membership invitation, it needs to remain fully engaged in conducting the necessary reforms.

Croatia is assuming a constructive role in building and maintaining stability on a global level as well, and is aware of its responsibility as a non-permanent UN Security Council member, which it is paying its full attention to, stressed Minister Jandroković. Both sides also noted Croatia’s important contribution to the UN peacekeeping missions, which remains one of the Croatian Government’s long-term priorities. The two ministers welcomed last year’s consultations about the topics on the Security Council’s agenda, agreeing on the need to support a regular exchange of opinions on all of the issues the Council will be dealing with.